Press Release
Sporting a charcoal-grey finish with an eye-catching orange, lime or blue midriff, the name of this cool dual-coloured vehicle is Multivan Beach, and it hopes to become a common sight wherever aquatic and winter sports feature on our beaches, lakes and skiing slopes. The perfect companion to take you to that perfect wave. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles today showcased this, the latest descendant in a family that originated with the VW Minibus, in a collaborative presentation with the board-sport label Chiemsee at the Port of Hamburg’s “Museum of Labour, Port Museum”.
A fashion show of the latest outfits featured in the current summer and the coming winter sportswear collections by Chiemsee created the lifestyle setting for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ Multivan Beach and its target group. The building in which the show was staged, “Shed 50a”, was a very deliberate choice of venues by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. For it was here that Volkswagen cars used to be loaded for shipping to overseas destinations in the 1960s.
Just as the VW Minibus has always been a symbol of free spiritedness, so does the Multivan Beach stand like virtually no other automobile for absolute freedom – taking the driver, his family and friends safely to any destination where fun and sport await them.
The Multivan Beach is a true marvel of space design. The rear bench is converted to a bed in next to no time, with an extension into the back of the van adding sleeping space for more overnight comfort. To add even more slumber comfort, the surrounding window panes in the Beach can be darkened. Anyone wishing more light, on the other hand, need only switch on the two swivelling lights fitted into the roof lining to turn night into day. Having awoken from a restful night of sleep, the occupants of the Multivan Beach can then easily fold out a breakfast table from the sliding door and set up the two folding chairs concealed beneath the left part of the cover in the rear compartment.
In the van’s interior, the designers have deliberately excluded all superfluous features, concentrating instead on low-maintenance, high-durability materials and lots of space and storage room for equipment. Larger items or clothing can be easily packed into the roof luggage net, into two pouches in the rear compartment or into a large drawer located beneath the (position-adjustable or removable) two-seat bench. Four rails are also available on which to hang light items. The Multivan Beach even allows for the easy transportation of larger-size sporting equipment – with the tailgate facilitating loading and unloading. And the vehicle can also be additionally fitted with a roof rack which accommodates up to 150 kilograms of extra luggage.
Additional heating in the passenger compartment helps to keep out the cold at all times, and a built-in radio helps to create the right sound ambience. Optional fittings and conversions are available for the Multivan Beach. And customers can choose from four high-torque TDI engines that will take them to their destinations economically and reliably.
Chiemsee and the Multivan Beach hit the road together
“The Multivan Beach is not only a car that you drive, but one in which you live,” explains Oliver Stelling, head of the business unit for special vehicles at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. This recreational van is targeted at dealers and customers throughout Europe and overseas. In addition to Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has solicited a lot of demand from classic surfing nations such as South Africa and Australia, Stelling went on to say. Which is why the Multivan Beach will be manufactured in a right-wheel-drive version as well.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and the Chiemsee clothing company have entered partnership on the Multivan Beach. Throughout this year, wherever Chiemsee is represented at trend-sport events, the Multivan Beach will be there too, and wherever Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles puts its Multivan Beach on display, the fashion label will likewise make its appearance.
“Chiemsee and the Multivan Beach are an ideal team,” says Andreas Mittag, head of communications at Chiemsee. “We both offer high-quality products for the special demands of sport enthusiasts.”
Surfing icon Brian Talma came all the way from his home country Barbados to give his expert assessment of the van. Champion surfer Klaas Voget and free skier Teddy Berr likewise satisfied themselves personally of the benefits of the Multivan Beach.
“This car is awesome,” said Brian Talma, himself the ultimate trendsetter in the surfing community. “It is exactly what we need. Has a cool design and an incredible amount of storage space.“
During the vehicle’s development phase, the members of a number of different sporting communities were specially interviewed to determine their particular needs and thus come up with a tailored solution for people who use the van for board-sports outings and adventures.
The Multivan Beach is available at all Volkswagen dealerships in Germany and greater Europe and is currently also available in Australia. The retail price currently recommended to the German market for the most economically priced model, a 1.9-litre TDI with 62 kW, is 28,715.80 euro, VAT inclusive.
